The web is dead - long live the 'net

There's an excellent article (as always) in this month's Wired magazine - by which I mean the one dated October 10 - about the 'net and web or, in today's parlance, apps versus websites.

However, you'll either have to buy the hard copy to see it or go to this part of the wired.com website to read all about the changing face of our digital interactions.

DIY retailer launches app

If you need help with all those annoying little jobs around the house (and believe me, my home improvements skills - or lack, thereof - are legendary) then a new app from DIY retailer B&Q could be the answer.

The app can help you take on DIY tasks such as plumbing, electrics, basic carpentry and more by:

- Creating a list of the tools you need for a job
- Using GPRS to find your nearest store (where you can buy what you need, of course)
- Updating you on all the latest promotions, to help you save money
- Providing a glossary of terms, so you can blag it with shop assistants/tradesmen
- Offering 'How to...' guides and grouping together the ones you use most
- Giving you hints and tips from experts
- Letting you pass on your knowledge to friends, through Facebook and Twitter

BBC News app gets go-ahead

I missed a significiant announcement while away on hols for the past two weeks: the launch of the free BBC News app for the iPhone and iPad.

The app was originally due in April, but the launch was delayed while the BBC Trust assessed the proposals and their impact on the rest of the industry.

According to Dominic Ponsford, editor of Press Gazette, "The concern the newspaper industry has is that the survival of our big independent news organisations largely depends on them being able to make money from new platforms other than print."

Of course, this is basically a reference to digital - both mobile, in the form of SmartPhones and apps, and the internet (in the form of ad-lead and subscription-based sites). It seems that iPhones and similar devices are the next big hope for the newspaper industry - although reports of the sector's death are 'greatly exaggerated' (as Mark Twain famously said in reference to his prematurely published obituary notice) since small business can still benefit from gaining coverage in the local media.

15 Useful Business Apps

Those smart people at BNET UK have published a great article listing 5 useful business applications for each of the iPhone, Android and Ovi (Nokia) platforms.

I haven't downloaded any for my iPhone yet, but the car mileage app looks particularly helpful since I can offset the cost of any petrol used for business - but need to keep track of those trips.

Anyway, here are the links to the lists for each platform. Choose the one(s) appropriate to your phone(s).

5 business apps for iPhone owners
5 business apps for owners of smartphones using Android
5 business apps for Nokia owners

When progress provokes anger

According to an article in Mobile News, Apple iPhone customers with 3G phones are annoyed about the launch of iPhone4 (although the gripes don't relate to the technical glitches endured by Steve Jobs).

The report suggests that these owners "feel duped" by Apple and "angry at purchasing new devices just weeks before [the] iPhone 4 announcement." I was in a similar position when I bought my own iPhone 3G in Autumn 2009, cancelling my Vodafone contract because O2 was the only UK provider at that time. Just a couple of months later, Vodafone starting selling iPhones too!

While severing my contract with Vodafone proved long-winded and problematic, I wouldn't use the word 'duped' or even 'angry' to describe my reaction to the situation. I assume they couldn't mention their marketing plans at the time of my request to leave due to the need for commercial secrecy. Fair enough - and the same can be said for Apple's surprise announcement about iPhone4.

Most of the time, technical progress is achieved through stealth; the result of closely guarded R&D. As consumers, we just have to accept that sometimes we'll lose out... but in the long-term, we'll win because the technology's improving.

iPad is flash, but not Flash

One of the criticisms of the iPad that I've heard/read about most concerns its inability to run Adobe's Flash (get the Flash player).

Given that many websites - including big-hitters such as the BBC - use Flash to support their multimedia interactivity, the criticism may seem valid. But why Apple continues with the policy (Flash doesn't appear on the iPhone or iTouch either) remains debatable...

... until you read the report in this month's Wired magazine, which offers some interesting answers - and a rather playful image of Steve Jobs (above).

iPad hits UK

After a successful launch in the US, Apple's iPad today makes it across the Atlantic to certain European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK) as well as Australia, Canada and Japan.

Here's how online technology commentators Mashable and Tech Crunch reported it.

There's also an interesting article in this month's Creative Review - called "iCame, iSaw, iConquered?" - on the likely impact of the new device on magazine publishing, but you'll have to be a subscriber (or WH Smith/library loiterer) to read it.

However, there's plenty of other good stuff on the CR blog.

Not a good week for Apple

Two Mashable reports from this week show that it's not been a good one if you're an Apple employee (or fan).

The first story revealed that the international launch of the iPad had been delayed, although admittedly this was because the pre-orders had been higher than expected.

The second is that an iPhone OS 4 beta jailbreak tool has been released, meaning that the hackers must have been busy as Steve Jobs was making the announcement! There again, in today's digital age, hacking rather than copying could be considered the sincerest form of flattery...

iPhone 4.0 Operating System: The Overview

In case you missed it, here's a short video showing Apple's Steve Jobs previewing the new iPhone operating system.

And here's the report from Mashable on the event, highlighting the most important development as the ability to multi-task (have more than one app running at a time). This had been one of the major drawbacks of past and present generations of iPhone, and certainly the one that persuaded many business users to stick with their BlackBerry (where multi-tasking is very do-able).

Jobs also announced iAd, a mobile advertising solution that's built into the iPhone 4.0 OS so that interactive video content can be included in an ad without taking the user out of the application. This is likely to increase click-throughs and generate income for apps developers, while keeping app-addicted users happy. Sounds like it's a good solution.

How does 'freemium' work?

Here's a great video resource (less than 4 minutes long) from BNET about marketing in the mobile space, and the so-called 'freemium' model of giving away phone apps and then getting paid for upgrades and so on.

This is certainly one of the revenue-generating models we're applying to our app developments and suggesting in our proposals, which clients seem to like.

Gartner predicts near-100% sales growth

In a recent press release, respected analysts Gartner predict that the "worldwide market for touchscreen mobile devices will surpass 362.7 million units in 2010, a 96.8 percent increase from 2009 sales of 184.3 million units."

The success of the iPhone has certainly contributed to this near-100% growth, both directly through its own sales, and indirectly due to other manufacturers emulating Apple's design on phones that retail for less.

Whether it's down to the iPhone or other devices, the predicted growth shows that users appreciate interactive interfaces of this kind.

(Image courtesy of Aaron Gustafson on Flickr)

Android Apps

Mashable is just one of the resources I use to stay up-to-date on what's happening in the social media and mobile technology arena, so I wanted to share this post about "7 Mind-Blowing Free Android Apps".

Now, I don't have an Android phone such as the Nexus One (I use an iPhone), but the review makes each of these apps look pretty cool. Out of interest, I looked for them (or something similar) on the App Store and found:

* Google Earth (in the Travel category!) and NASA's "Space Images" app (Education)

* Only a handful of free translation apps, with mixed reviews (although there's "Dog Translator" for converting barks into English!)

* Several free movies apps, including the one I have "Movies". While it does have a US bias, you can still track down what's playing in your local cinemas via the location-based search, get the show times and read the relevant reviews. Useful.

Hope that helps?!

"Ferrari Fone" coming soon

Hardware manufacturer Acer is expanding its range of mobile devices and has also announced a March 2010 launch for its Ferrari smartphone.

Here's how the news has been covered by two of the leading online tech-sites:
Mobile Crunch
TechRadar

Should we expect to see "McLaren Mobiles", "Red Bull Receivers" or
"Williams WebPhones" flooding the mobile market soon?

Your company: is there an app for that?

If your company wants to commission an app, you've got to consider when's the best time to do it.

Getting an app that is part of your marketing communications plan, fits in with your brand image, and doesn't blow your budget is a great start. But you've got to figure out how and when you're going to use it.

Companies are using apps to engage customers (and prospects) and to build brand awareness - particularly in association with their product launches and other public events. They're also offering so-called utility apps that are useful/functional (such as the Stanley Tools spirit level - here's the press release) or pure entertainment (e.g. any game).

Apps that use the functionality of the smartphone they reside upon are also popular. Examples include location-based apps that use the GPS found inside most devices, or image-related apps that connect seamlessly to the phone's built-in camera.

Lastly, if you want to persuade your target market to take action (including paying for what you have on offer), then an app can be the perfect vehicle: available anytime, anywhere on a device that's treasured by its owner.

(Image courtesy of Margaret Anne Clark on Flickr)

Cartoon fun with apps

Social media guide Mashable has recently published reports on the crossover between two separate worlds: animation and apps.

The first story announces the release of a 'Monster Maker' app featuring Elmo, the Sesame Street character.

The second piece describes how a recent (US) edition of The Simpsons featured Homer using an iPhone!

The two articles confirm either what we knew already - the iPhone's not just cool, but cool enough to feature on The Simpsons - or suspected: it's ubiquitous enough to be reaching out to kids.

And here's where my personal experience comes in. Once a child gets hold of an iPhone (parents beware!), s/he will intuitively know how to use it - and love the interface. Even my under-two toddler likes watching Timmy Time episodes on the BBC iPlayer.

iPad verdicts

OK, I haven't seen it live, touched it or used it... so this post is simply a starting point for further investigation into Apple's iPad.

Here are a few different viewpoints on its usefulness, drawbacks and potential:

* Mashable post #1 offers an overview of the new device

* Stephen Fry adds his unique perspective

* Mashable (#2) highlights the geographical limitations of iBook functionality

* Creative Review asks the fundamental question: what is the iPad for?

Whatever the reality/your own view, it must be true that this is yet another medium designed with applications in mind.

Developers - get your thinking caps on!

Black Hawk Down (on your iPhone)

According to a recent post on online social media guide Mashable, the US Army has launched its own app - available free from the News category within the App Store.

While the reviewer expected it to be "little more than a recruitment app", the new tool actually offers access to the official US Army site (which links to all the Services) and its database of facts on equipment and vehicles - including Black Hawk helicopters.

And to prove that US Forces are 'with it' in marketing terms, the website's Home page also features a video and a link to a social media page that includes dozens of entries on Flickr, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Google not so smart with Nexus One

The launch of the Nexus One smartphone has proved frustrating for U.S. consumers - and less than successful for Google, according to a BBC report.

Americans can buy the phone from Google for $529 or get it with a T-Mobile contract for $179. Only new (not existing) T-Mobile customers qualify for the deal, fuelling many complaints. Meanwhile, other new users are moaning either about the level of support available or 3G connection problems.

All of this comes in advance of the arrival of the phone in the UK (through Vodafone) although prices and launch dates have yet to be confirmed.

Let's hope - for Google's sake and on behalf of their customers - that these issues are resolved by the time the phone does go on sale here.

App development tips

The latest issue of "Wired" magazine focuses on the apps boom - and how to jump on the bandwagon.

As well as including lots of interesting facts and figures (some updating the ones I offered up when starting this blog), the article also includes an inset piece on 'How to build an iPhone app' with a 5-step approach that is logical and realistic - and certainly advice worth following.

I especially like the first tip: Read the iPhone Human Interface Guidelines (HIG).

App Store Avalanche Continues

Yesterday, Apple announced that more than 3 billion apps have now been downloaded from the App Store.

Here's how some of the IT news outlets reported the announcement:
Information Week
TechCrunch
ZDNet

Not surprisingly, all of the items I've read suggest that the timing of this announcement was intended as a spoiler for Google's launch of the Nexus One smartphone, which it hopes to rival the iPhone at some point.

The question is, will the avalanche bury the newcomer without trace? I doubt it.

(Image courtesy of Maistora on Flickr)